Comment on At least 4 dead in West Virginia flooding, hundreds trapped at mall

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rescue crews have begun evacuating an estimated 500 people who are trapped by high water in a West Virginia shopping center. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s communications director, Chris Stadelman, said the people were trapped at the Crossings Mall in Elkview after a culvert bridge washed out. At least four people are confirmed dead after storms with heavy rain rolled into West Virginia early Thursday and continued throughout the day, leaving thousands without power and several roads impassable from high water. Stadelman said Friday morning that some areas were “devastated” by what appears to be the worst flooding in a century.